Fountain pen



M. s. BAKER FOUNTAIN PEN July 2, 1946.

Filed Sept. 18, 1944 INVENTOR.

[far ZzLm $301567,

ATTORNEYS.

Patented July 2, 1946 1 UNITED STAT ES PAT ENT OFFICE FOUNTAIN PEN Marlin S. Baker, Evansville, Wis assignor to'Th'e Parker Pen Company, Janesville, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Application September 18, 1944, Serial No. 554,640

Claims. 1 The invention relates generally to filling devices for fountain pens. and more particularly to a multiple stroke filling device of the type disclosed in the Dahlberg Patent No. 1,9Q4 8 58;

The general object of the invention is to prodrical form andhaving an internal in}; receiving vide a novel filling device of the foregoing charchamber or reservoir II. I At the forward; end acter, which is of simple and inexpensive conof the barrel is the usual, pen section l2 which structlon, which may be readily operated, and carries a, pen point lQand-a feedbar l4 extend which provides a substantial reduction in the g through thepen section. Th feed p -14 effective volume of the barrelor reservoir of the 10 is provided with a feed channel [5 throughwhieh pen during the filling operation so that a sub ink is fed from the reservoirll to the pen point stantial 'quantity of ink may be drawn in on each l3. Branching off from the feed channel [5- in: stroke of the device. termediate its ends is anL-shapecl passage U55v It is also an object to provide a novel filling h ving se ured therein a breather tube I117 orconf device of the multiple stroke type, which is of 15 n ionalform Thebarrel may be providedwith inexpensive construction resistant to wear and threads lB at its lower end for reception of the deterioration to provide a long life, and is highly usual cap or cover (not shown) to protect the effective in its pumping action. point I3 when not in use.

Another object is to provide a novel filling A filling device embodying the features of indevice of the multiple stroke type, having a Vention S O the m t p e stroke type operating bulbous type diaphragm adapted alternately to in the manner disclosed in the above-mentioned be collapsed by a decrease in air pressure therein b j pat nt and is mounted in the rear end effected'bymovement of a part in one direction. of the barrel ii). A fil device of this a a therein and to be physicallyexpanded by moveter is on tructed so that movement of its move. ment ofsaid part in the opposite direction. able part in one direction decreases the effective A further objectis to provide a novel filling v lume of the reservoir H and thusdischarges' device of the multiple stroke type, having a ir h r i f i m u h he breather tube ILand bulbous type diaphragm adapted to be alternately m ent n the 1 139 1 96: direction r w n. an collapsed and expanded by a part reciprocable equivalent Volume of thupoint l3-0f t D within and relative to the diaphragm and having Of ur be ng inserted in a container, of; ink a sealing relation therewith, the reciprocation of u ng such-operation. The amount of air dissaid part alternately reducing the air pressure in rg d and i k aw n n a h str ke of the the diaphragm to effect collapse thereof and exfilling device is only. a fractionof, the total volume paneling the diaphragm physically. ft e, res rvoir olso. hat; by a plurality of Still another object is to provide a novel fil n P fla O $1 fi n e ce, sufficient ink willbe device of a self-contained unitary structure, I W n o h bar $31 9 fill. it to the desired level, which may be constructed for actuation of the su h lerel geinglimited by the height of the movable part thereof by manual operation for breather-tube: l- 'l I v both directions of movement or with a spring ,Alfilling deyice embodying the features f th tending to move such part in one direction. 40 invention comprises, generally a bodysstructure Other objects and advantages will become apadapted. tobeseeured, to. the rear end of the parent from the following description taken i barrel and having mounted thereon a diaphragm connection with the accompanying drawing, in of elongated bulbous form when expanded and which: of generally flattened formJout substantiallyun- Fi re 1. 1s a o itud al s ct v f a an e n'lenathuwhen contracted; The diafountain pen provided with a filling device em- D ragrn s;17n e0f.:suitab1e flexible material such bodying the features of thelnvention. as rubber and'is solconstructed that, when col- Fi 2 is a fragm ry View of h p n on an lapsed and inflattened. form, it occupies aminienlarged scale and showing the filling device in munrr of space within the barrel. To expand the; section. 5o d aphragmga plunger is reciprocally carried by Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 and showing e'b u mm of t fi11ing deyflicegnd is another embodiment of the invention. 7 provided with a head which expan t ev o t on.

Fig.' 4 is a. view similar to Fig. 3 and showing of the diaphragm lying betweensuchhead and the filling device of Fig. 3 with its parts in operthe body structure. Thus, the major portion of ating position. the length of the diaphragm will be alternately secured to a fountain pen which, in the presentinstance, comprises a barrel]! of generally cyli-n:

3 expanded and flattened to alternately decrease and enlarge the effective volume of the reservoir and thereby create a differential pressure within the reservoir which forces air therefrom and draws in ink.

In the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the body structure of the filling device comprises a member preferablydimensioned to form an extension of the barrel ID. The body member 20 is provided on its front end with a threaded portion 2| adapted to be screwed into the barrel l0 and terminating in a reduced portion 22 extending into the barrel and having a diameter substantially less than the internal diameter of the barrel.

Secured to the body member is an elongated generally bulbous diaphragm 23 having an open end 24 and a closed end 25. The open end 24 is sleeved over the reduced portion 22 of the body structure and is secured thereto as by cement. The diameter of the reduced portion 22 is such that the open end 24 of the diaphragm clears the barrel l0, and the filling device thus may be readily removed from'thebarrel for purposes of repair merely by' unscrewing the threaded portion 21 from the barrel;

' The diaphragm'n is so constructed that it as- I sumes a flattened form, when collapsed, without any substantial change in length, as shown in Fig. 1-. It thus-occupies a minimum of space withinthe barrel. Such collapsing of the diaphragm iseffected by means of a plunger, indicated. at 25, reciprocably supported in a bore 26 of the body member 2%. The plunger 25- extends into the diaphragm 23 and at its lower or inner end-is provided with ahead 2'! serving as a piston within the diaphragm. The head 21 is of such diameter that it creates a vacuum within the portion of thediaphragm between the head and the closed end of the diaphragm to cause it to collapse: pneumatically, and expands the portion between the-head andthe' body portion. Hence, by reciprocation of the head 2! within the diaphragm the major portion thereof may be alternately expanded to its bulbous form and contracted to its flattened form. In order to facilir tate molding of the diaphragm and to'prevent any sharp fiexure thereof during operation, the lower. or closed end 25 is shaped to remain substantially in its expanded form throughout the operation of the device.-

The head 21 is bevelled at its two faces, as shown at 30, to facilitate the sliding movement thereof within the diaphragm 23, and is provided with a stern 3| extending into a bore in the end of the plunger 25 and cemented therein to rigidly secure the head to the plunger. Since the portion of the diaphragm 23 beyond or forwardly of the head 21 would not contract to its flattened form if air were permitted to gain access thereto during reciprocation of the plungenthe head 2'! is of such diameter as to distendthe diaphragm slightly beyond its normal expanded diameter. Thus, the diaphragm hugs tightly about the head 21 .and' provides. a seal preventing access of air into the forward end of the diaphragm.

Reciprocation of. the plunger within the diaphragmv would ofcourse create changes in pressure within that portion of the diaphragm lying between the head 2'! and the body structure unless th interior of such space were vented to the outside atmosphere. Thus, on a down stroke of the plunger, a partial vacuum would be created within such space in the diaphragm, which would tend to cause the diaphragm to hug the plunger and thus decrease the amount or expansion of the diaphragm. On the upward stroke of the plunger, without such venting, a pressure would be built up within such space, which would tends to force air around the head 21 and into the lower or forward end of the diaphragm. Since the seal between the head and the diaphragm cannot be particularly tight in view of the fact that the head has to reciprocate easily within the diaphragm, any building up of pressure in the space above the head might break such seal. However, such space can be readily vented to the outside atmosphere by so dimensioning the bore 26 in the body member 211 and the plunger 25 that the latter has a loose fit within the bore. Air may thus pass between the body member and the plunger to maintain the pressure within the upper portion of the diaphragm substantially equal to the. outside atmosphere. The collapsing of the diaphragm, as explained above, is due to the creation of a vacuum therein, while the admission of air between the body-member and plunger to the interior space above the head 21 permits the diaphragm to expand to'its normal; bulbous form. The collapsing and expanding of the diaphragm may therefore be said to beeifectedpneumatical- 1y, since such actions are dependent upon air pressures.

The upper or open end of the diaphragm, it will be'noted, is expanded to fit tightly over the reduced portion 22 of the body member. With such expansion, the sealing action of the diaphragm about the head 21 would not be as effective, when th head is in its upper position, as when the head is farther down in the diaphragm. Moreover, in operating the device, the head may remain in its upper position for a moment before the user again pushes it downwardly, and, with a less effective seal, there might be some chance of air leaking into the front or lower portion of the diaphragm around the head. To prevent such a leak occurring, the diaphragm is provided with a restricted neck 34 adjacent the end of the reduced portion 22', which holds the diaphragm tightly about the head 21 when in its upper position. The diaphragm may thus be 'collamed to its flattened form for: substantially its full length 1without the chance of air lea-king around the ead.

It is, of course; desirable to lock the plunger 25 in a fixed position when the filling device is not being used. To this end, a cap 32 is mounted on the upper end of the plunger 25, the two being preferably cemented together to provide a semipermanent attachment. The cap is provided with a threaded portion 33' adapted to be screwed into the upper or outer end of the body member 20 and thus'retain the parts in fixed relation. Preferably the cap 32 is dimensioned'to constitute a continuation or extension of the body member 2%, and since the latter is likewise dimensioned to constitute an extension of the barrel, the cap and body member provide a neat uniform appearance when the device is mounted on the barrel.

Movement of the plunger 25 in both directions in this embodiment is. efiectedmanually, the cap 32 providing a part which may be readily grasped when unscrewed from the body member 20 to effect such reciprocation. Thedevice is of 'a self-contained unitary character since the dia the'body member is secured to. the'bar rel. Thus in case of replacement, the whole device may be' remov Q th ar l m e b theho ymemb t ref mv The emb diment how in i 3 nd. 4 1 en e l y s mi a to t t show in Figs, n .1 fe s h fl n t t a pr is p v d d. f r effecting movement of the plunger in one direction. In this embodiment, the body member, indicated at 40, is provided with a threaded portion 4| adapted to be screwed into the rear end of the barrel l0. On the front or lower end of the body member is a reduced portion 42 adapted to receive the open end of; a bulbous type diaphragm 43 similar in construction to the diae phragm shown in the other form. The diaphragm 43 is adapted alternately to be expanded to a bulbous form and to contract to a flattened form by the reciprocation of a plunger 44. The

latter is provided with a head 45 and in the pres nt in t nce, he ung 44 i u a a d the head 45 is provided with a threaded stem 46 screwed into the lower end of the plunger 44.

' The plunger 44 is reciprocably supported in a bore 41 in the body member 40 and extends up: wardly therebeyond to be secured to a cap 50 at its upper end. In the present instance the cap 511 is secured to the plunger by being threaded thereon as indicated at 5|.

Venting of the space within the diaphragm 48 between the head 45 and the reduced portion 42 is accomplished in the present instance by utilizing the interior of the tubular plunger 44. To this end, transverse openings 52 are provided in the lower end of the plunger 44 immediately above the threaded stem 46 of the head 45 to connect such space with the interior of the plunger. At its upper end, the plunger is provided with transverse apertures 53 registering with apertures 54 provided in a threaded stem 55 extending from the inner face of the cap 5!}. The threaded stem 55 is adapted to be screwed into the end of the body member 4a to secure the parts of the device in fixed position when notin use. Thus when the cap 50 is unscrewed from the end of the body member 4|], the space within the diaphragm 43 is freely vented through the. transverse apertures 52 the interior of the plunger 44, and the apertures 53 and 54 at the upper end of the plunger. Since the apertures 52 are located above the stem 46 of the head 45,

such apertures when the plunger is in its upward or. extended position, will be located within the bore 41 of the body member and thus be substantially closed off for a short portion of the reciprocation of the plunger. While no great pressure could be built up within the space with; in the diaphragm for the short period during which the apertures 52 are covered, means is provided to definitely insure that no air will be forced into the lower end of the diaphragm due to such slight pressure as might be created at this time. To this end, the diaphragm adjacent the reduced portion 42 of the body member is provided with a restricted neck 55 which seats against and provides a seal with the head 45 of theplunger so that no air can be forced around the head.

One of the features of this embodiment of the invention is the provision of a spring to effect movement of the plunger in one direction. To this end, the bore through the body member is enlarged as at 50 to provide a shoulder 6|. Spaced from the shoulder 6| an oppositely facing shoulder 62 is provided by a sleeve 63 clamped on the reduced upper end 64 of the plunger by means of the cap 50. Inter-posed between the the sleeve 63v is provided with an elongated shell portion 65 extending downwardly within the bore 60 and encasing the spring 55 to serve as a guide therefor.

In the operation of the filling device shown in Figs. 3 and 4, when the cap 50 is unscrewed from the end of the body member 4!], the spring 65 causes the plunger to move upwardly and thus move the head 45 to a position adjacent the body member, causing the major portion of the diaphragm to collapse, due to a decrease in air pressure therein, into its flattened form without any substantial change of length, as shown in Fig. 4. Manual depression of the plunger moves the head 45 downwardly therein and thereby expands that portion of the diaphragm lying between the head and the body member. Thus, by alternate contraction and expansion of the diaphragm, the desired differential pressure within the barrel may be effected to fill the pen. The space within the diaphragm between the head 45 and the body member is freely vented to the outside atmosphere through the transverse apertures 52, the interior of the plunger, and the apertures 53 and 54 at the upper end. Any slight pressure that may be built upwithin this space when the plunger is at the upper end of the structure and the apertures 52 lie within the body member is prevented from causing air to pass around the head member 40 and the cap 50 constitute extensions of the barrel I0 and present a neat continuous appearance when the parts are locked in place,

and because of the. unitary construction of the device, the device as a whole may be removed from the barrel merely by unscrewing the threaded portion 4| therefrom.

I claim:

1. A filling device for a fountain pen comprismg a body structure, a diaphragm secured at one end to said body structure and closed at its other end and a plunger extending through and. reciprocably upported by said body structure and having a head located within said diaphragm, said diaphragm bein held by said head in an expanded bulbous form between said head and the body structure and being pneumatically caused to assume a flattened form beyond said head, said head being slightly larger. in diameter than the normal expanded diameter of said diaphragm to distend the diaphragm about said head and thereby provide a seal to prevent air from being forced around said head and into the portion of the diaphragm beyond said head.

2. A filling device for a fountain pen comprising a body structure, a diaphragm secured at one end to said body structure and closed at its other end, and a plunger extending through and reciprocably supported by said body structure and having a head located within said diaphragm, the portion of said diaphragm between said head and said body structure being held by said head in an expanded bulbous form and the portion of said diaphragm beyond said head being caused to assume a flattened form by decreased air pressure therein, said head being dimensioned to distend the diaphragm about said head to provide a seal second-mentioned P rtion, said first-mentioned portion being vented to the outside atmosphere. 3. A filling device for a fountain pen comprising a body structure, a diaphragm secured to said body structure, and a plunger carried by said body structure and having a head reciprocable within the diaphragm to expand the portion thereof between said head and said body structure into bulbous form and to decrease the air pressure within the portion beyond said head to effect flattening thereof, said diaphragm having a restricted neck adjacent said body structure adapted to engage the said head when the diaphragm is fully collapsed to provide a seal to prevent access of air around said head to the flattened portion of the diaphragm.

4. A. filling device for a fountain pen comprising a body member having a portion secured to the end of the barrel of the pen and a reduced portion extending into the barrel, a diaphragm having one end sleeved over said reduced ortion and its other end closed, a plunger ex ending through and reciprocably supported by said body member and having one end adapted to expand said diaphragm into bulbous form and to efiect contraction thereof, and a cap secured to the other end of said plunger and adapted to be removably secured to said body member to hold said plunger idle.

5. In a fountain pen having a barrel, a filling device comprising a body member having a threaded portion screwed into the end of the barrel and a reduced portion extending into the barrel, a diaphragm having a closed end and an open end, the open end being sleeved over said reduced portion, a plunger extending through and reciprocably supported by said body member and having a head on one end located within the diaphragm and adapted to expand the diaphragm into bulbous form, and a cap secured to the other end of said plunger and having a threaded portion adapted to be screwed into said body member to releasably hold said plunger idle.

6. In a fountain pen having a barrel, a filling device comprising a body member adapted to be secured to the end of the barrel and constituting' an extension thereof, a diaphragm within the barrel having a closed end and an open end with the latter secured to said body member, a plunger extending through and reciprocably supported by said body member and having one end extending into said diaphragm and adapted to expand said diaphragm into bulbous form, and a cap secured to the other end of said plunger and adapted to be removablysecured to said body member to hold said plunger idle, said cap when so secured constituting an extension of said body member.

7. A filling device for a fountain pen compris ing a body member. adapted to be secured to the 8 pen, a diaphragm secured to one end of said body member, and a tubular plunger reciprocably' mounted in said body member and having a head at one end located within said diaphragm and adapted to expand said diaphragm into bulbous form, said plunger having an opening connecting the interior of the plunger with the space within said diaphragm between said head and said body member to provide a vent to the outside atmosphere.

8. A filling device for a fountain pen comprising a body member adapted to be secured to the pen, a diaphragm secured to one end of said body member, and a tubular plunger reciprocably mounted in said body member and having a head at one end located withinsaid diaphragm and adapted to expand said diaphragm into bulbous form, said head closing one end of the interior of said plunger, and a cap secured to the other end of said plunger, said plunger having lateral openings respectively adjacent said head and said cap connecting the space within said diaphragm between said head and said body member with the outside atmosphere through the interior of said plunger.

9. A filling device for a fountain pen comprising a body member adapted to be secured to the pen and having an internal .bore provided with an internal shoulder, a diaphragm secured to one end of said body member, a plunger reciprocably mounted in said body member and having ahead at one end located within said diaphragm and adapted to expand the portion of said diaphragm between said head and said body member into bulbous form and to eifect contraction of the portion of the diaphragm beyond said head, said plunger being provided with a shoulder facing said internal shoulder, and a coiled spring surrounding said plunger and bearing against said shoulders to urge said head toward said body member. r

10. A filling device for a fountain pen comprising a body member adapted to be secured to the pen and having an internal boreprovided with an internal shoulder, a diaphragm secured to one end of said body member, a plunger reciprocably mounted in said body member and having a head at one end located within said diaphragm and adapted to expand the portion of said diaphragm between said head and said. body member into bulbous form, a cap secured to the other end of said plunger, a sleeve member located within said bore and secured to said plunger by said cap, and. a coiled spring surrounding said plunger and bearin against said shoulder and said sleeve member and encased. by the latter, said spring tending to move said head toward said body member.

MARLIN s. BAKER. 

